The real stories from inside the F1 paddock

Stefan Bellof – 25 years later

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Stefan Bellof, a rising Formula 1 star who died at the wheel of a Porsche sports car (below) at Spa-Francorchamps, when he collided with veteran Jacky Ickx at the entry to Eau Rouge.

He was 27 at the time of his death. One of the most spectacular new talents of the 1980s, Bellof’s career path was meteoric. He won his first two races in Formula 2 at the start of 1982, at the wheel of a Maurer. He was then recruited for the 1984 season by Tyrrell, where he was Martin Brundle’s team-mate. He made his first big impression at Monaco that year (below) where he was catching both Alain Prost’s leading McLaren-TAG and the second place Toleman-Hart of Ayrton Senna when the rain soaked Monaco Grand Prix was stopped at half distance in torrential rain.

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The guy was awesome, still a legend all these years later. His ’83 Nordschleife lap record in a Porsche 956 is something very special indeed. I for one would be quite happy if that remained for another 27 years.

On a side note, I seem to remember that after Tyrrell’s team troubles in 1984, Ken Tyrrell sacked Bellof and replaced him with Stefan Johansson. However, after Brazil in 1985, Ferrari sacked Rene Arnoux (who had put in a barnstorming performance to come through in 4th) and replaced him with Johansson, meaning Tyrrell had a vacancy again, which they handed back to Bellof.

Quite a bizarre turnaround Joe – do you have any insight into what went on, 25 years down the line? Why didn’t Bellof get the Ferrari gig? With all due respect to Johansson, Bellof was available after all, and frankly better. Why did no-one else have him signed up for 1985? Why did Ferrari change their mind about hiring De Cesaris, who I seem to recall was their 1st choice?

Thanks for mentioning this Joe. I had no idea about this man, but your blog prompted me to learn more. Seemed a great talent, too bad he never got to achieve all he could.
Thanks for bringing this up, I’m glad someone remembers those who gave their life for the sport we love.

Nice that you take the time to remember & remind people of the fallen heroes within the sport. I was at the Montreal Grand Prix in 07 right at the Hairpin and thought I had just witnessed someone just die or probably suffer severe bodily harm, the race suddenly became irrelevant it was an overwhelmingly sick feeling that lasted until the good news came that R.K had only suffered a broken leg, (first trackside announcement, later sprained ankle) It shook me up and spoiled the race because no sane person wants to witness that. Like him or not full credit to Max Mosley & the FIA for overhauling safety, when you look at some of the old F1 cars on display at Grand Prixs and see that they were just Aluminum tubs with some fiberglass and loaded with fuel it is surprising more drivers did not perish, no leg protection whatsoever…Those Guys had massive, massive courage to strap into those cars & race pushing 200mph, not to mention the lack of track saftey. I do not envy your attendance at the Grand Prixs where you witnessed some of these types of unfortunate events.

I only ever saw him drive the Maurer, which if I remember rightly was the class of the Formula 2 field, but he was mighty impressive in it. It was rare for anyone to dominate in that formula but he was head and shoulders above those around him.

I will never forget watching that very wet Monaco Grand Prix on TV, Senna was extraordinary for someone in one of their first Formula 1 races, but had that race not been stopped when it was, there was only going to be one winner – Bellof. He put Senna to shame that day. OK the Tyrell was the car to have, nimble and no turbo, but boy did he make it dance!

There is no doubt that he was destined for big things and could well have been the first German World Champion, but could also well have been the second posthumous one.

Shame we never got to see Bellof mix it with Prost and Senna. That was a great era but it could have been so much better with another top driver in the mix. Somehow Bellof’s 25th anniversary doesn’t come as such a shock as Gilles Villeneuve’s for some reason. Maybe because Gilles tends to be discussed more.

You have to wonder how popular Schumacher would have been had the German fans been comparing him with a successful Bellof who had lived to achieve his potential.

Uff, time flies. I remember this crash very vividly, first time I saw on TV the death of a driver and shocked me. Who would have thought that Senna in a few years would suffer the same faith?
Those 2 events had a great impact on me and, although I love the sport and have raced amateurishly it makes one respect and appreciate even more these brave guys when they are pushing the envelope regardless of the racing series.
Thanks for not forgetting.

Doesn’t seem like 25 years, thanks for reminding us. I remember that Monaco race on TV, and the excitement of Murray Walker that Senna was catching Prost, but pretty much being missed in the commentary was how even more rapidly Bellof was catching both of them. The decision to stop the race was fairly controversial as it was seen as ensuring Prost’s victory at the expense of Senna, but what was obvious from a look at the lap times was that a few more laps would have seen Bellof 1st, Senna 2nd and Prost 3rd.

Fatalities were still quite common back in the early and mid ’80s, but Bellof’s death struck me at the time as particularly tragic.

Joe, the Tyrrell was irregular in 1984 and it arguably helped the performance of Stefan that day in Monaco and throughout the season; the car was underweight. Later, the team lost all the points in the season.